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Embroidered panel, Kent, England, 1930-1940

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Many institutions used manual labour as therapy during the 1800s. This included gardening and laundry work. In the 1900s, institutions began using more expressive therapies such as arts and crafts as rehabilitation. This colourful embroidered panel was created as part of an occupational therapy activity at Kent County Lunatic Asylum. It is extremely detailed. The panel is a work of patience and dedication. It interweaves images of animals, flowers, insects, an anchor and one lone woman. The initials BARM are stitched into the design. These may be the initials of its maker.